Blog of New Orleans

Winnas, Loozas, and Splits

The 2010 citywide elections brought a major paradigm shift in local politics as voters ignored racial appeals and voted for experience and competence  most of the time. Some political newbies (like mayoral candidate James Perry) fell short, while others (like Susan Guidry and Kristin Palmer) won big. My usual list of winnas and loozas thus is supplemented by several splits. Here goes:

DA WINNAS

1. New Orleanians  The Feb. 6 primary saw major crossover vote  both ways  in the victories of Mitch Landrieu (the first New Orleans mayor to win a majority among blacks as well as whites); council candidates Arnie Fielkow, Stacy Head and Kristin Palmer; judicial candidates Tracey Flemings Davillier and Paula Brown; Sheriff Marlin Gusman; Criminal Court Clerk Arthur Morrell; and Assessor Erroll Williams  all of whom had opponents of another race.

2. Democrats and the ALF-CIO  Every office on the ballot this year was captured by a Democrat, and the AFL-CIO, long a source of Democratic support, backed individual winners in many races.

3. BOLD  The Central City black political organization saw Karen Carter Peterson win a Senate seat once held by the groups archenemy Bill Jefferson. Carter Peterson went on to play a big role in helping Susan Guidry beat Jay Batt in the hotly contested District A race for City Council. BOLD also crossed racial lines to back Stacey Head in the council District B race.

DA LOOZAS

1. Ray Nagin  He went on black radio asking African-Americans to vote along racial lines, which is how he won re-election in 2006. Not only did black voters overwhelmingly reject his race-based appeal, the results of Feb. 6 also repudiated Nagin himself. Maybe that's why he so determined to leave the city bankrupt now: After years of taking petty shots at other politicians, he now wants to take revenge or all New Orleanians.

2. The GOP  Jay Batts loss in District A was a major setback for the local Republican Party, which until 2006 had held the council seat for more than 25 years. In the mayors race, lone GOP candidate Rob Couhig finished with less than half the votes he got in 06. Four years ago, the GOP mantra was, Id rather have four more years of Ray than eight years of Mitch. Now theyre getting both.

3. The Franchisees  A lot of familiar names in the black political community proved to be non-factors this time around. In high-profile contests  most notably mayor and council Districts B and C  black voters supported white candidates over black opponents. The Franchise isnt dead; its just no longer in the hands of the old power brokers.

4. Leon Cannizzaro  The new DA did not fare well in his first political outing. He endorsed losers in several high-profile races, including John Georges for mayor and Jay Batt for council in District A. He had some down-ballot victories, particularly in Davilliers race for juvenile judge, in which he played a major role. His support for Georges (who supported him for DA) also showed that he pays his political debts.

SPLITS

Dynasties  Mitch Landrieu became the second son of a former mayor to win his dads old office, and Arthur and Cynthia Hedge-Morrell won their respective races for clerk and city council. On the other hand, Claude Mauberrets withdrawal from the assessorial runoff brought an end to a century-old dynasty, and Cynthia Willard-Lewis defeat in the at-large council race reduced her familys political holdings to one judgeship.

Reformers  Landrieus victory in the mayors race and wins by Guidry and Palmer in City Council contests gave reformers lots to cheer about, but Janis Lemles failure to make the assessorial runoff was a major blow to their cause. Likewise, state Rep. Austin Badon carried the reform mantle in District E but fell short in the runoff.